Wednesday (3/22) Come out on Wednesday and catch a legend… Valerie Simpson! She is half of the legendary songwriting/performing/duo known as Ashford & Simpson. Their award-winning collaborations began over four decades ago when she along with her late husband Nick Ashford penned classic hits such as “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “You’re All I Need to Get By,” “Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand,” “I’m Every Woman,” “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing,” “Solid,” “Your Precious Love,” “Let’s Go Get Stoned” and more. Valerie recently completed a 24-city tour with Dave Koz and four Ashford & Simpson songs are now featured in the Hit Broadway Musical “Motown-The Musical’ which is touring the country. We are pleased to have her here at BBJ! The concert starts at 8pm.

Thursday (3/23) We’ve got the master of “cheatin’ n’ sneakin’” songs – Clarence Carter. “Show me a man who’s got a good woman,” soul man Joe Tex once sang, but if Tex had any sense he’d keep his good woman as far away from the man known as Dr. CC. as possible! Born in Montgomery, Alabama in 1936 and blind since birth, Clarence Carter was playing guitar by the time he was 11, his own style influenced by the blues records of John Lee Hooker, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and Jimmy Reed. After attending college and earning a degree in music, Clarence hooked up with another blind musician, keyboard player Calvin Scott, in 1963 and recorded as Clarence & Calvin. As a solo artist, Carter signed with Atlantic in 1968 and hits “Looking for A Fox” and “Slip Away” followed. The man known for inserting an earthy chuckle into some of his records like “Back Door Santa,” kept his chart momentum going with hits like “Too Weak To Fight,” “Snatching It Back,” “The Feeling Is Right,” “Doin’ Our Thing,” and “I Can’t Leave Your Love Alone.” Sharing the stage with Clarence Carter will be Charlie Owen & Pocket Change. The show gets rockin’ at 8pm.

Friday (3/24)Newmyer Flyer Presents – Dream Discs: Layla & Other Assorted Eric Clapton! Layla was the only studio album released by the Eric Clapton led band Derek & The Dominos, but it is widely regarded as his best record. The double disc was released in 1970 and shows Clapton at the peak of his powers. In addition to the smash hit title song, the album contains numerous gems including “Bell Bottom Blues,” “Anyday” “Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad,” and others, showing off Clapton’s emerging skills as a first rate songsmith. The Dominos were rounded out by Bobby Whitlock, Carl Radle, Jim Gordon and featured slide virtuoso Duane Allman guesting on 11 of the 14 tracks. The album places high on many Best Rock Album lists and was rated the 3rd best album of the 1970’s by noted critic Robert Christgau. Come out and hear this classic album performed along with an assortment of other Clapton favorites by Tom Principato, Patty Reese, Bobby Thompson, Holly Montgomery, Lisa Lim, Liz Springer, Ty Braddock, Bill Starks, Eddie Jones, Greg Hardin, and others. The tribute starts at 8pm.

Saturday (3/25) Get ready, Bethesda, for Joe Clair & Friends! Joe and his crew will be back at it for two big shows featuring comedians Charles Walden, Timmy Hall, and Marshall Brandon. The house band, Sound of the City, will add the musical touch. Host, comedian, radio personality and on-air veteran Joe Clair is no stranger when it comes to Washington, D.C. This native of Seat Pleasant, MD is the current host of WPGC’s Joe Clair Morning Show, taking the morning airwaves by storm and making the drive to work much more enjoyable for listeners across the DMV. He is proud graduate of Morgan State University where he pledged Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and graduated as a psychology major but found his passion for comedy, music and communications. Clair got his start on HBO’s famed Def Comedy Jam before gaining national notoriety as host of BET’s famed show, Rap City, where he introduced the world to hip-hop and rap superstars and was most notably known as the last person to interview hip-hop icon Notorious B.I.G. The shows start at 7pm and 10pm. Seating begins at 5pm and 9:30pm.

Sunday (3/26) Join us for DC Street Corner Harmony with The Clovers, The Spaniels, and The Jewels. During the 1950s and 60s, Washington, DC was a hot bed for R&B and Doo-Wop music. Today, many groups that performed during that era continue to perform today taking audiences back to the “good old days” with their popular hit tunes. The Clovers hits include “Love Potion #9,” “Blue Velvet,” and “Devil or Angel.” They have built a reputation as one of the most entertaining groups still around. The Spaniels are best known for the hit, “Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight.” The original Spaniels debuted in 1952 in Gary, Indiana as Pookie Hudson and the Hudsonaires. A powerhouse female group, The Jewels have been recording and performing for over 50 years. The grouped formed while attending Roosevelt High School in Washington, DC in 1958, and in 1963, they released their first national hit, “Opportunity.” This show begins at 7:30pm.

Monday (10/17) Of the many British Invasion acts that stormed the charts in the wake of the Beatles, Chad & Jeremy possessed a subtlety and sophistication unmatched among their contemporaries, essentially creating the template for the kind of lush, sensitive folk-pop that was to follow. From humble beginnings in coffee houses and folk clubs in London, they were “discovered” by famed movie composer John Barry and they recorded a string of hits: “Yesterday’s Gone,” “Summer Song,” “Willow Weep For Me,” “If I Loved You,” “Before and After,” “Distant Shores.” Over the years, the two men remained in touch, and a reunion opportunity presented itself in the summer of 2003 with a PBS TV music special. Since then they have performed all over the United States, Hawaii, and the Philippines, entrancing audiences with their unique blend of songs old and new, romantic and satirical, plus their humorous stories and anecdotes. The concert begins at 7:30pm.

Wednesday (10/19) The enormously talented Mike Phillips is the only musician in the world to have recorded and toured with the legendary “Big Three” of American soul music: Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, and Prince. The New York native has exploded on the world music scene, becoming his own jazz man with a hip-hop flavor, known for blowing away audiences on stage, on television, and with chart-topping recordings. He’s had standing ovations at the Montreux Jazz Festival, the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, and the inaugural balls for Presidents Clinton and Obama. His recordings, You Have Reached Mike Phillips, Uncommon Denominator, and MP3 scored in the top ten of the Billboard jazz music rankings. This great show starts at 8pm.

Thursday (10/20) This concert by The Blackbyrds is dedicated to their fellow alumni of Howard University in celebration of Howard Homecoming! One the most accomplished bands ever from the Washington, DC area, The Blackbyrds came together more than 40 years ago under the tutelage of their music professor, the late great jazz trumpeter Donald Byrd, who became their manager and producer. They created a unique jazz funk sound combined with soulful harmonies that made a big impact on the music charts in the 1970s, with 10 top 40 R&B hits and several that made the pop charts. The Blackbyrds’ biggest hit recordings were “Walking In Rhythm,” their Grammy nominated, million-selling smash hit that received widespread airplay on several radio formats, peaking at #4 on the R&B chart and #6 on the pop chart, “Happy Music,” an uplifting party anthem that was their biggest R&B hit at #3 and also #19 on the pop chart, and “Rock Creek Park,” their most beloved recording known by generations of music fans. Come out and enjoy the “Happy Music” of these hometown favorites! The show starts at 7:30pm.

Saturday (10/22) Saturday night will rock at BBJ! Carl’s Rare Roast Beef Band plays a wide variety of classic rock hit songs from the 70’s & 80’s: Booker T and the MG’s, Spencer Davis Band, CCR, The Rolling Stones, The Doobie Brothers, Eric Clapton, CSN&Y, Bad Company, The Police, and lots more. With Polly Brown on vocals, Steve Stinnette on bass, Mike Moore on lead guitar and vocals, Bruce Buchanan on vocals and keys, and Ralph Dweck on drums, the good times are gonna roll. Come out and join the party! Remember to take advantage of the free weekend parking at Cheltenham Garage. The band starts at 9:30pm.

Sunday (10/23) The great Spyro Gyra are contemporary jazz icons who observed their fortieth year as a band in 2014. They’ve been going strong since the popularity of their familiar tune, “Morning Dance,” from 1979. They released their most recent album of new material (their 30th), The Rhinebeck Sessions, in 2013, which Jazztimes called “inspired.” Travis Rogers of the Jazz Journalists Association picked it for Jazz Album Of The Year. Something Else Reviews called it “Their finest album since their early 80s heyday” and made it a Top Twenty pick for the year. Audience reaction has been so positive to their post-2000 material that bandleader Jay Beckenstein decided to give their albums from that time a little more focus. In order to spotlight this innovative period, Spyro Gyra released The Best Of The Heads Up Years. Come out and hear what’s happening with this iconic band! The concert starts at 7:30pm.

What else is coming up at Bethesda Blues and Jazz? On deck we’ve got Anissa Hargrve with a Special Guest Appearance by Gloria Gaynor, a tribute to the music of Tina Turner, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Freaks Come Out at Night Halloween Party with Clones of Funk, An Evening with Kevin Whalum, Incognito featuring Maysa, Larry Carlton, Davy Knowles, and A Gospel According to Jazz with Kirk Whalum… to name a few! Check our Music Calendarfor the latest information and to get your tickets.

Thanks for supporting great music in Bethesda! We look forward to seeing you soon.